The holiday season is the time for parties, festive events, and time with families. During the month of December, you’ll often indulge in treats and lose sight of your health goals. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to eat healthy during the holidays by following these tips and recipe suggestions.

Remember the holiday is just a normal day. Don’t avoid breakfast and lunch so you can binge on dinner and dessert.

Try having a protein-rich snack one hour before the big holiday meal.

Plan to have some healthy options on the holiday table. There are some links to recipes below.

Check out all the options before you load your plate. Be smart about your choices.

Set a goal, or a limit, and stick to it by sharing it with someone else at the table or writing it down.

You should always have soup, vegetables, or a salad as the first course. It should help curb the craving cycle.

Make sure to finish two glasses of water, preferably with lemon, after the meal.

Have something planned for the after the meal with your friends or family members: a game, cleaning up, a walk…

Eat mindfully, meaning take deep breaths, contribute to a conversation, put your fork down while you chew.

Make sure you enjoy every bite.

Enjoy yummy food while still eating healthy by preparing one of these recipes for a special feast or potluck.

At Open MRI of Pueblo, we aim to provide our patients with quality MRI care. While we know that overall imaging quality is of importance to patients, we also understand that pricing is a major concern. Did you know that you can save hundreds on your MRI at Pueblo? Yes, hundreds. Learn more about our pricing options and how you can save on your MRI.

How much are the MRI scans?

All of our MRI scans at Open MR of Pueblo are $480!! That’s it. Our self-pay patients will always only have to pay $480 online for pricing. That saves you hundreds, if not thousands, compared to other MRI providers.

How do you make MRI’s so cheap?

Our little secret to keeping money in your pocket is our partner SaveOnMedical. SaveOnMedical is an online marketplace where patients can shop around for imaging procedures that they need. All you do is select the procedure you need, your zip code, and BAM, you have the lowest priced procedures listed in your area. You can find our prices on our website if you go to the homepage, scroll down, and on the bottom left is the SaveOn logo. Click on that and you can instantly see our prices on all of our procedures, and you can book your appointment right there.

How much do you really save me though?

Let’s take you through an example. If you go to our SaveOnMedical page by following the directions listed earlier, just select the type of MRI you want, and it will show you the typical price for that procedure, our price, and how much you would save. For an abdominal MRI at Open MRI of Pueblo, we save you $529. That’s enough to get another MRI at our facility.

Don’t pay less for poor quality MRI’s. You can experience our one of a kind MRI scanner and a unique imaging experience at an affordable price. Contact us for details about our cash pay pricing, insurance options, and to schedule an MRI!

With the holiday season upon us, there are many things to be thankful for. Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, we are reflecting on how thankful we are for our amazing staff and inspiring patients. At Open MRI of Pueblo, we are most thankful for Open MRI and how this technology is able to help us provide our patients with the best imaging experiences. Here are just a few reasons why we’re thankful for Open MRI.

Relaxation.

Who knew MRI’s could be relaxing? Fortunately, Open MRI can help provide our patients with a relaxing MRI experience without feeling like you’re stuck in a noisy machine.

No more claustrophobia.

Many patients who suffer from claustrophobia find that Open MRI scanner can help ease their worries. With almost 13% of patients saying they suffered a panic attack in an MRI scanner, we are thankful that Open MRI can help eliminate claustrophobia.

Quality Images.

When it comes to providing our patients with quality imaging, Open MRI is the scanner for you. Our radiologists are thankful for the quality images that can assist with image interpretation.

We are most thankful for Hitachi’s OASIS High-Field MR System. As the first outpatient High-Field MRI in the state of Colorado, our MRI scanner provides the best quality imaging experience while minimizing scan anxiety. What’s not the be thankful for?

These are just a few things we are thankful for as an Open MRI center. We hope you enjoy all the things you are thankful for this month. If you’re interested in booking an appointment with our Open MRI scanner, feel free to contact us for assistance.

Your doctor informs you that you need an MRI or CT scan. We’re here to assure you that CT’s and MRI are both painless procedures with important uses. In addition, huge advances have been made so it’s much easier now to have these scans if you have a tendency to be claustrophobic. Let’s take a closer look at each scan to see which is best for you and your imaging needs.

MRI stands for “magnetic resonance imaging.” It’s a type of scan that can produce a detailed snapshot of parts of the body, including the brain. It’s an imaging technique—radiation isn’t used and there are no known side effects or risks linked with having an MRI scan, once the Radiographer has checked the patient over for metal.

An MRI scan is used to determine or identify the following:

Causes of pelvic pain in women

Status of brain conditions

Potential uterine abnormalities in women with infertility issues

Cysts, tumors other abnormalities in various parts of the body

Abnormalities of the joints

Injuries or back pain

Certain kinds of heart problems

Diseases of abdominal organs

Abnormalities of the spinal cord and the brain

While MRI’s are typically a longer procedure than a CT scan, your doctor may have requested that you have a CT scan over an MRI depending on your needs. Just like the MRI, it’s non-invasive and it’s accurate. For those reasons, it can reveal internal injuries and bleed quickly enough to help save lives.

A CT scan stands for “computerized tomography”(CT) since it uses a computer that takes data from several X-ray images of structures inside your body. After converting them into pictures on a monitor, tomography generates a two-dimensional image of a section or slice through a three-dimensional object.

Unlike an X-ray machine that sends just one radiation beam, a CT scan emits a series of narrow beams through the body as it moves through an arc. The final image is a lot more detailed than an X-ray image because, inside the scanner, there’s an X-ray detector, which can see hundreds of different levels of density and tissues inside a solid organ. The data is transferred to a computer, which builds up a 3D cross-sectional picture of the part of the body and bam, it’s shown on the screen. Sometimes a contrast dye is used. The whole process usually lasts about 5 – 20 minutes.

Oncologists and Radiologists use the CT scan to:

Assist in planning for, and to assess, the results of surgery, such as organ

Identifies injuries due to trauma to the heart, liver, kidneys, bowel, lungs and

spleen

Administer and plan radiation treatments for tumors and monitor reaction to

chemotherapy

Measures bone mineral density for the detection of osteoporosis

While both procedures have the benefits, your area of concern will determine if CT or MRI is best for you. If your doctor recommends an MRI, Open MRI of Pueblo can provide you with the superior imaging quality and care tailored to your needs.

Many factors can influence whether or not a women is diagnosed with breast cancer. With 1 in 8 women being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, women may be wondering how they can prevent this disease. While various risk factors play a role, your diet directly influences your breast health. Simply by incorporating these foods into your diet, you can help reduce your risk for breast cancer.

Beans

There are 10 whole grams of fiber in every half cup of beans. When you add this to your recommended daily intake of fiber, you can decrease your risk of breast cancer by 7%! This is an easy side dish to add to any meal or even mix it in some rice. You decide!

Green tea

Ok so it’s not technically a food, but green tea has loads of health benefits! Studies have shown that women who drink at least one cup a day of green tea have lower levels of urinary estrogen, which is a carcinogen of the breast. You can add honey or whatever you like to spice it up a little! Enjoy your relaxing cup of green tea.

Cabbage

Cabbage has high levels of glucosinolates, and research has found that people who include raw or lightly cooked cabbage in their diet at least three times a week were 72% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate it twice or less. Pretty crazy, right?]

Salmon

Salmon is super popular among healthy eaters, and it’s because it’s got those omega-3 fatty acids we’re all looking to get! Turns out they’re not just helpful for other health reasons, they’re also good for your breasts. This can even be your excuse to dine out at a fancy restaurant in town, all on account of healthy breasts!

Walnuts

Nuts are always good for you, but studies have linked walnuts specifically to fewer breast cancer tumors and slower growth of those tumors. This is a super easy snack to have at your desk at work or even in a dish while watching tv while you’re winding down from your day.

Vitamin D

Again, not technically a food, but everyone knows that Vitamin D is important not just to breast health, but to overall health as well. Vitamin D can be found in a variety of foods such as cheese, egg yolks, beef liver, tuna, and much more. There are many foods that are rich in Vitamin D, and if you aren’t a big fan of them, don’t sweat it. You can simply get your daily dose of sunshine and call it even.

Pomegranates

Some researchers believe the ellagic acid in pomegranates can help protect against breast cancer by “suppressing estrogen production and preventing the growth of the breast cancer cells”. There definitely still needs to be more research done to prove anything, but for not pomegranates aren’t the worst thing you could be adding to your diet.

Plant-based Diet

This is a general lifestyle change, but it’s definitely one most researchers recommend! Whether you make the giant switch to a plant based diet, or you simply incorporate more healthy food in your life, you will be happy you made the adjustment.

Plums and Peaches

Everyone knows those “p” fruits are good for you, but did you also know that they contain antioxidants that are capable of killing breast cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed? Not to mention, they’re absolutely delicious. I feel like peaches should be considered cheat foods!

Sweet Potatoes

Studies have shown that women with higher levels of carotenoids typically have a lower risk of breast cancer. Sweet potatoes are a great way to stock up on these, so take every opportunity you have to chow down on these tasty yams!

Be proactive about your breast health by undergoing annual mammograms, performing regular at-home exams, and incorporating these foods into your diet. Eating these healthy foods is a simple way to fight breast cancer. If you are at high risk for breast cancer, consider undergoing a breast MRI. If you’re in need of a breast MRI, visit our center and schedule an appointment with one of our board certified radiologists.

Whether you suffer from claustrophobia or are undergoing an MRI for the first time, this diagnostic imaging scan can be intimidating. Whether its the noises or lengthy scan time, we understand that preparing for this exam can be overwhelming for our patients. No need to worry, we’ve got you covered with a list of helpful MRI prep tips.

1. Pre-Procedure

There is no special week of, the night before, or day of procedure for an MRI exam. You’ve made your appointment and we’ve confirmed your time with you. Just remember if you didn’t already pay out-of-pocket online, bring your insurance card with you. Also, try not to wear any jewelry or metal objects as we will ask you to take them off before you are escorted to the exam room. Most importantly, remember there is nothing to be worried about! At Open MRI of Pueblo, we take care of you.

2. Items to bring

As we said before, make sure to bring your insurance card if you didn’t already pay our incredibly low online prices. Bring a copy of identification with you, a playlist for music during the exam, and bring a friend or family member to comfort you during the exam.

3. Items not to bring

Try not to bring any metal, jewelry, or anything else that can disrupt the MRI scan. If you do bring these items it’s no problem we will put them in a safe place for you while you are in the exam room.

4. Day of procedure

Once you arrive at our office we will ask you to fill out some patient paperwork. Next, you will be instructed to change into a hospital gown and take off any metal on your body. Then, you will be told to lie down on the MRI machine and just relax. If you brought a playlist we will play it for you, if you brought a friend to comfort you, you will be allowed to talk to them. Just make sure you lie perfectly still, the MRI will take anywhere between 15 min to an hour to complete.

5. Post Procedure

After the MRI is complete you will be able to change out of your hospital gown and into your normal clothes. Then you will get any belongings back that weren’t allowed in the exam room. Then if you didn’t already make a payment you will be lead to our front desk to show your insurance card. After all of this, you are free to go! We encourage patients to treat themselves after having to stay still for such a prolonged period of time.

We hope these helpful tips will put your mind at ease. Fortunately, MRI’s are painless and non-invasive which means they’ll be over before you know it. If you need to book an MRI appointment, schedule one at our center today!

While there’s no denying your love for your furry friend, do our pets actually love us back? Neuroscientists have been able to get inside the minds of dogs and discovered that they may not be in it just for the treats. These researchers put our furry friends to the tests and discovered surprising results

Do pets actually have emotions?

Neuroscientist, Gregory Berns, had the idea of seeing what his pet was thinking. Berns trained his pup to stay still while inside an MRI scanner by creating an MRI stimulator in his home. By training various pups and teaching hand signals to signal when they’d get a treat, the study began looking closer into if animals actually have feelings.

The MRI Study

The study revealed striking similarities between dog and human brain structures. The functionality of a key region, the caudate nucleus, shows emotions like anticipation. In Berns’s study, this brain region reveals that ‘treat time’ is something important that they enjoy which is analogous to what humans experience.

So does this mean your dog loves you or just the food? Treats or food can be seen as motivation to love us, similarly to what motivates someone to like another person. Depending on the pup, MRI’s showed that dogs reacted best to praise, food, or a combination of both.

Other MRI studies have shown that dogs actually understand what we say. Dogs actually love us and can understand our commands? According to this MRI study, dogs’ brains reacted to positive comments and commands using the left hemisphere of their brain. This means that dogs in this study were positively rewarded by meaningful words like ‘well done’ and ‘good boy’.

MRI’s are not only our favorite imaging tool, but this medical test also can help track brain activity in our favorite pets. The next time you’re questioning your furry friend’s affection for you, read this article for reassurance that they really do love you and listen. While our center does not specialize in puppy MRI’s, we’d be happy to help you with your imaging needs.

For veterans and firs-timers alike, MRI’s can be boring. Whether you suffer from claustrophobia or boredom, finding ways to pass the time while in a noisy MRI scanner is easier said than done. If you are looking for ways to keep your mind preoccupied during your scan, we’ve got you covered with a few things to day dream about.

Think about a treat

Since there is no formal pre procedure rules for MRI’s we always encourage our patients to treat themselves after their appointment. Whether it’s going out to eat or taking a shopping break. Think of what you’ll treat yourself with after your appointment.

Make a to-do list

Strapped on time? Make a grocery list, a to-do list, or a gift list in your head while you are getting an MRI. It’s multitasking at it’s finest.

Picture yourself at your favorite concert

Since we let you bring your own music to your appointment, jam out like no other while getting your MRI. Visualize yourself on stage, or in the crowd, either way it shouldn’t bother the MRI technicians even if you sing a little!

Think about how much money you’re saving

Since we use SaveOn medical to give you the best prices on MRI’s we are saving you hundreds of dollars. If that isn’t something to dream about I don’t know what is!

Be at the beach

Because we use open MRI technology you’ll feel so much more comfort than you would if you were in a normal MRI machine. You’ll feel so comfortable that you might mistake our office for a tropical sand beach.

Or take a nap

If all else fails, just lay back and take a nap! We see patients do it all the time and we get it. So just drift off to sleep and we’ll handle the rest.

We hope these tips will help you stay distracted during your MRI scan. Our team at Open MRI of Pueblo is dedicated to making your MRI experience a breeze, so feel free to reach out to us with how we can make you comfortable. Your MRI will be done before you know it!

The healthcare industry is confusing enough, but hidden medical fees make it difficult for patients to understand the care they need and how to go about getting it all. Open MRI of Pueblo has always stressed price transparency with our patients, but paying for any diagnostic imaging procedure can be intimidating. We’re here to provide you with a few tips to help you finance your medical expenses.

Shop Around

Your first step should definitely be shopping around. Sites like Save On Medical can help you do exactly that. Save On Medical allows both insured and uninsured patients find the cheapest MRI price for our services. Be sure to consider your financing options before making a decision to ensure you’re paying the best price on your procedure.

But I Already Have the Bill

So what do you do when that bill arrives? How do I finance my medical bills? No one wants to have to take out a personal loan from their bank or anything, but luckily there are other options.

Check It First

Studies show that a large portion of medical bills contain errors that may charge a patient 50 to 80 percent more. With almost half of Medicare claims with errors, double checking your medical bill will ensure you’re paying the correct amount.

Negotiate

Many people don’t realize that medical bills are often negotiable. You need to talk to the right people – like a billing manager or someone at your insurance company – but it’s possible with some convincing that they will work with you on the fees. Many medical bills include intake/discharge fees, medication, doctor’s consultations, and anesthesiology in addition to the actual imaging procedure itself. Some of them may be willing to lower their cost, or your insurance company may be willing to pay more.

Ask for Help

You don’t need to go right to the bank to ask for help. Talk to the billing manager about a payment plan that works with you. You can also turn to crowdsourcing – ask friends and family to pitch in. If it’s for your health, they are likely to be able to chip in.

As always, we encourage you to push for transparency before the procedure or imaging scan. Be sure to do your research and follow these financing tips next time you are undergoing a medical procedure. Whether you are covered by insurance or uninsured, use Save On Medical to get the best price for your open MRI at our center.

Unsure if you are the right age to get a mammogram? Diagnosing breast cancer in younger women (under 40 years old) is difficult because their breast tissue tends to be denser than the breast tissue in older women. By the time a lump in a younger woman’s breast can be felt, the cancer often is advanced. Early detection of breast cancer can drastically increase your risk of survival.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE FOR A MAMMOGRAM?

The American Cancer Society has guidelines for when women should be more proactive about getting mammograms. If you have a family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known for increasing your risk for breast cancer, or had radiation therapy to the chest before the age of 30, you should be getting mammograms before the age of 40.

IF YOU HAVE INCREASED RISK OF BREAST CANCER

If you are under the age of 40 and you fall into one of those categories, you should get a mammogram no matter what age you are. The American Cancer Society says if you are under the age of 40, and fall into one of the guidelines for having an above average risk of breast cancer, that you should be getting mammograms about every 1-2 years.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE INCREASED RISK OF BREAST CANCER

If you are still under the age of 40 and don’t have any of those risks, then you don’t technically have to get a mammogram. Most doctors will advise against you getting one, but if you want to be precautious speak with your doctor.

Mammograms are the best way to prevent and detect breast cancer. 90% of women whose breast cancer was diagnosed at an early stage will survive. This is why we encourage women to get mammograms on an annual basis.